Blog posts
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Mar 20, 08:48 PMLast chance to catch the whole Economics 008Greetings,
The beta test is almost over. I just wanted to let you know this is your last chance to listen to my new upcoming release Economics 008. You have one more week to listen to the album in its entirety and make suggestion about anything before I execute those suggestions and send this bad boy for distribution. The album is only available at www.reverbnation.com/bubblesmuisc or through this Tunepak URL...
http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1286236
For those who sign up to be my fan you will be able to download some tracks off of Economics 008 as a "Fan Reach" promotion. This will only be available to my fans through www.reverbnation.com/bubblesmusic and will be ready next week. It's not hard to be my fan because really all you have to do is press a button. Being my fan, and signing up for "bubbles' News", my newsletter of all things bubbles, gets you special access to material and shows. Free stuff people. And as I grow you get more stuff so it's a win win.
Some good advice was given about the cover art so that will be updated with the help of the artist that drew my logo. I also got some comments on marketing. What I am amazed is the lack of comment on the music. Like I said, very few musicians give you this kind of control so take advantage of it. Comment publicly on any of my comment sections in any of my social networking sites. Or email me privately at bubbles@bubblesmusic.net
That's all for now. Have a good one.
Peace,
bubbles
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Mar 10, 01:50 PMBeta Test my new Album!Greeting Chimps and Chimpettes,
Just like Google, I am going to beta test my new album "Economics 008". I want feed back about the songs, and the production. I have decided to post the entire "Economics 008" only on www.reverbnation.com/bubblesmusic to get some feed back before I go into the final phase of full fledged release. I'm asking for your help to make bubbles even better!
There is still a bit of time for me to make some minor changes (once it goes to Itunes, there is no room for correction), and there is plenty of time to make use feedback on future projects. Any feedback, constructive criticism, kudos, thoughts, and musings are welcome. You can send them privately via email at bubbles@bubblesmusic.net or you can just comment here, or on any one of my social networking pages.
Here are some of the things I'm looking for,
Does the album flow well?
Are the songs clear and produced well?
What genre would classify the music?
What other music does this remind you of (artists and/or songs)?
Are the songs balanced in their volume?
Do you like the art work (check my pics)?
What is your favorite song?
I'm a thick skinned monkey so don't hold back. Also, Thanks so much for your help and support. I look forward to hearing from you!
Peace,
bubbles
P.S. New release info...
Description: Economics 008 is a sonic reflection of the economic crisis of the year 2008. Some songs are driving and full of anxiety, other songs slow and melancholic, and all songs tell a story. Deeply electronic, and cinematic Economics 008 focuses on telling a story.
Economics 008
- Loose Regulations (3:08)
- Sub Prime - Feat. Prophetnoise (3:57)
- Is this The Bottom? Part 1 (1:46)
- Stern Bear (2:29)
- Credit Freezer (3:21)
- Is This The Bottom? Part 2 (3:10)
- Commercial Paper (3:00)
- Detroit Goes to Washington (2:51)
- Up Now, Down Later (2:05)
- Is This The Bottom? Part 3 (1:56)
- Big Bailout (3:06)
- Detroit Goes Back to Washington (2:10)
- Foreclosing the Year (2:28)
- Recessional (1:36)
All songs written and recorded at the Disco Room, Portland, Oregon by bubbles except: Sub Prime, written by Prophetnoise and bubbles
Published and Copyright 2009 by bubbles media services
For more info on bubbles check out www.bubblesmusic.com
Also check out bubbles' Commuter album at www.cdbaby.com/cd/bubbles2
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Mar 07, 11:39 AMPerspectiveHello Chimps and Chimpettes,
My name is bubbles and this is my opinion. Recently I have been thinking a lot about perspective, reason, and emotion. During the course of last week I encountered two instances where I found myself very frustrated and angry at people for engaging in behaviors that I think are futile, a waste of energy, and lacking in logic.
One instance was a group of fur protesters at a downtown shop in Portland, OR. They were waving signs, yelling at passing cars and people on the light rail. My first thought was a snarky "wow, I bet a lot of people take the Max go to buy a fur coat." Then, as the logic circuits of my brain tried to process the experience I began to ask myself what is the cost/benefit of their actions to our community and society as a whole. I thought about the benefit of caring for animals and the environment. I thought of the benefit of exercise of free speech. But I was disturbed that some much vigor and anger was going towards this cause while there were so many people hungry right in front of them, literally. If they took that energy and cooked a meal, joined a soup kitchen, collect blankets, what ever, wouldn't the benefit be much greater?
The other instance where I just had to wag my finger, involves a discussion on Facebook. The discussion started over a friends post about the poor business practices of a local booking agent. I strongly believe that people in the music industry should be held to reasonable standards of business. In a comment I voiced my disagreement with another commenter's posts about the "whinny" feel of the subject. Mr. Commenter felt that airing such grievances over the internet was unnecessary, and defended the local booking agent. I disagreed with that notion. I believe the internet is a place for unfettered communication. I also disagreed with his notion that show promoters and musicians should excuse poor business practices, like double booking a night, because "booking is a hard business".
I believe the thing that connects these two instances is the lack of perspective, or perhaps better words are - a disconnect from the entire picture. For example, in the instance of the fur protesters, I can not understand why their energy was being devoted to animals instead of the humans in need right next to them. The homeless people where hanging out all around, asking for money, asking for food. Couldn't the protesters see the suffering of their fellow man, or where they so engrossed in their pride that they failed to even notice? And as in the case of Mr. Commenter, he seemed to take extreme umbrage to my description of booking agent as "not so hard a job". I felt compelled to remind him that there are people who have to make life and death decisions as part of their job, in hopes of urging perspective. I had hoped to place the discussion about the music industry in a larger context so we can get beyond petty and short sighted arguments about single instances.
I have strong reservations about the way people think that they are isolated, as if what they do in their everyday lives is not deeply intertwined with everything and everyone around them. Like when Mr. Commenter posted "Don't compare booking agents to soldiers and paramedics and I won't compare indy electronic artists to musicians." Why not? Don't we live in the same world? In cohort? Why not respectfully see yourself as part of a larger society where you are playing your own role.
This lack of credit where credit's due is a contributing factor to many of social ills.
I believe this disconnect from each other is why teachers and schools are underfunded and CEO's are overpaid. It's ironic how CEO's seem unwilling to relinquish exorbitant salaries for the benefit of their own workers who keep the company running. It is sad how public university sports coaches are the top paid state employees by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sadder yet, when a coach gets angry at being questioned about the unfairness school teachers and government employees having to take furlough days while he gets paid millions. A lack of disconnect.
Music, and the people who make music happen, it is wanted and necessary in our society. It always has, and all ways will. It requires dedications, time, creativity, organization, and a host of other skills and talents. These things may be difficult for some people to execute in concert. The emotion associated with this difficulty is not an indication of hard work, but rather frustration. My music is important, but not as important as the doctor who will someday care for me in my ill health.
What do you think?
Peace,
bubbles
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Feb 26, 07:57 PMThere's nothing new under the sun... including this cliché.Greeting Chimp and Chimpettes,
I love the serendipity in this world. I was going to make a comment on the CD baby DIY Podcast forums but decided against it. Drawing a blank on a blog topic, I asked my fellow Tweetorians on Twitter to come up with one. First up was Sidfaiwu with the title of this blog. Thanks and here goes...
As I read comments on the CD baby DIY Podcast website I ran across a debate between a prolific commenter and another musician. Nothing new here. The debate essentially went like this; the prolific commenter had made multiple posts with themes that suggest there are absolutes in being a successful musician. In this instance, he said that a band needs to maintain mystery and hide their everyday goings in order to be a successful artist. This was in response to a topic of conversation based on podcasting and other web 2.0 social media.
A subsequent commenter wrote that he did not understand why so many of his fellow artists made such absolutist claims even though creativity is by its nature infinite in possibility. There was a defensive response by the prolific commenter asserting there are absolutes. He sited death as proof of absolutes.
Unfortunately I have issue with the prolific commenter's logic. First of all I am unaware of ever talking to a person who has died. I am unaware of anyone who has talked to a dead person to confirm that there is no life after our physical demise in this dimension. Therefore the claim to knowing that death is an absolute is false. I would argue that there are multiple religions claiming death as only a transitional phase of being. There are stories from Jesus to Greek gods that talk of eternal life. What about music, art, or children as a form of eternal life? No, death does not seem to be an absolute.
Other examples made by the prolific commenter of absolutism are even more wrought with logical problems so I won't go into those.
So what does this have to do with there being nothing new under the sun? Simply put, there truly is nothing new under the sun. There are new combinations of old things, like computers and people who talk for the sake of hearing themselves talk. To think that any one individual can possess the intelligence and memory to make absolutists claims is far from likely and in my opinion laughable.
Peace,
bubbles
www.reverbnation.com/bubblesmusic
Links:
CD baby DIY Podcast - http://cdbabypodcast.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/bubblesmusic
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Feb 16, 11:46 AMBreak Time, Chemical Breaks, and ChemicalsHello Chimps and Chimpettes,
I am glad to meet all you new people, keep in touch with all you old friends. If you're just getting to know bubbles, I invite you to read some of my older blogs at http://bubblesbloggy.blogspot.com/. Read all my blogs there because I sometimes am a lazy monkey and don't want to post to 30 different sites on a Sunday. A
As I figure out the last bits of my next release "Economics 008" I am trying to pick what genres to call my music. While I have been influenced by all types of music from Pink Floyd, to Mozart, to Luke Vibert, my music does not necessarily sound at all like them. So what does it sound like? I went and compared it to other albums and songs and as best I could come up with is Chemical Breaks. Think of bands like the Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, and Fat Boy Slim. Still that's not quite it. There's a lot of Detroit Techno in my music too, at least I think. Still, not really sure if Chemical breaks really describes me.
But I guess chemicals describe Alex Rodriguez. No wait, philanthropy. No, no, wait, chemicals. I read an article in the NY Times online about his generosity to the Hurricanes.
I am not a big fan of baseball. In fact I would rather watch hockey. Still, this whole steroid crap is beginning to get on my nerves. I land on the side that they should give me the money that they earned while on steroids. This is how I came about to that conclusion; Every time I wanted to watch something like news or the Simpsons there was a stupid baseball game on. Ok, I know I'm pissing some baseball fans off but give it up. My game, football, is on Sunday. What? Do you really get up on Sunday morning saying to yourself I wish "I could really watch some Meet the Press" (not that it's a bad show). Anyhow, baseball wouldn't be as popular with out these big hitters, therefore my TV shows wouldn't be preempted.
At least Michael Phelps was using a non-performance enhancer. All you guys on ‘roids should smoke massive bong hits for two years and see if you can hang. If you can perform, I will forgive the steroids. If you can't you don't deserve to get paid millions while other people starve, but that's just my opinion.
Peace,
bubbles
PS Don't forget to sign up for the bubbles mail list here... www.bubblesmusic.net
Links:
bubbles' blog - http://bubblesbloggy.blogspot.com/
Chemical Breaks - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_beat
A. Rod article NY Times (by - Karen Crouse) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/sports/baseball/14arod.html?hp
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Jan 31, 01:06 PMWhy are musicians so dumb/obnoxious/close-minded/antagonistic/defensive?Preface:
Looking for a fresh Blog topic yesterday I posted a tweet on Twitter.com and received this question/blog topic first. Being a chimp true to my grunts I will now write a blog about said topic. And check out the new song Long Winter.
Hello Chimps and Chimpettes,
First let me start with my name is bubbles and this is my opinion. A few of my colleagues and I have been discussing why it seems that artists, musicians in general, tend to be, in the words of a fellow musician, "dumb/obnoxious/close-minded/antagonistic/defensive". This stems from my philosophical/sociopolitical look at the music industry and the people who work with in the field. Perhaps there is no more dumb-ness in this field than in any other. But it would seem that musicians hold the trophy for the lack logic.
Let me make an example, a musicians thread on the CDbaby Forums is started with "Seven Resolutions to Help You Succeed". The post is simply tips to help a musican to sell music, and become overall more successful as a business. One of the first responses was classic idea that music is an Art and that thought and action towards an end of entrepreneurial sustainability is somehow anti-music. It would seem that to the proponents of this idea anything less than inspiration and sheer talent denigrates the concept of music.
This idea makes no sense to me. I believe there is no reason someone cannot be creative and logical at the same time, like Ben Franklin or Homer Simpson. Beyond that, it would seem to me that if you are trying to make a living as a musician you would act in a manor that is conducive to getting paid. Ohh, like showing up to a gig on time with every thing you need.
Another personal example is Craig's List. In my beginning attempts to find a DJ our new hip-hop outfit called Watermelon Funk, we clearly asked for a DJ with scratch abilities, blending skill, and own equipment. What kind of answers did we get? Rappers, saxophone players, people who did not own a single record or turntable. Only a few of dozens of replies fit the description in the ad. Did these people not know how to read, or did not understand the word "DJ"?
I could go on and on with egregious examples of stupidity and close-mindedness on behalf of musician but I want to continue on to why. Perhaps it has to do with musicians shutting the parts of the brain that control inhibitions in order to increase creativity. Check out this ABC news article here.
Or perhaps it has to do with the difference between sets of social/moral drivers. For example the tendency for musicians to have low self image, but the ability to turn those inhibitions off during a performance. For some background The musical temperament: psychology and personality of musicians by Anthony Kemp.
I think I will sit on this for a while and think. This blog will probably a three part post. I would love to hear your thoughts. Please comment, or email for a private conversation.
Peace,
bubbles
More Links,
Microblogging at twitter- www.twitter.com/bubblesmusic
CDbaby "Seven Resolutions to Help You Succeed"- http://www.cdbaby.org/stories/09/01/15/0970196.html
ABC news article on music and the brain-http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/Story?id=4386976&page=1
Find a library and get the book sucka!
Anthony Kemp: The musical temperament: psychology and personality of musicians
http://www.amazon.com/Musical-Temperament-Psychology-Personality-Musicians/dp/0198523629
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Jan 21, 12:18 PMCD’s are dead.Greetings Chimps and Chimpettes,
I hope these words find you well. These days I feel knee deep in ideas and shy on time. A new song called "Recessional" is up. Another ambient jam, this one seems terrible and sweet at the same time. This will most likely be the last track on my next release "Econ 008". The album is a collection of songs inspired by the economic troubles of 2008. Hopefully I will not have to write "Depressional" for 2009.
On a related note. Some songs that are on the new release are as of yet, unreleased and will only be available on the release. Others will be re-mixed, or re-mastered, as I am unhappy with the compression of the songs. So expect the music to only get better in quality. Also, the release will no longer be in standard CD format. With thanks to many logical and invigorating discussions with the artist Prophetnoise, my publishing company BMS and I have decided to move to a more green, and modern delivery method.
I am in development stages of this particular packaging. I can tell you it will be a small run of unique art packaging made by yours truly, signed and dated with limited run numbers on each. The music will be in a computer friendly delivery method, and also available online at most digital download/subscription sites like I-tunes and Rhapsody. More on that in a later blog. I believe the CD is dying and there are better ways for you to get your music. Ideas welcome.
Hey, thanks for listening. Really.
Peace,
bubbles
www.itunes.com/bubbles/commuter
Other links...
Prophetnoise - www.myspace.com/prophetnoise
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Jan 09, 01:52 PMBalderdash, Hogwash, and straight stupid.Greetings Chimps and Chimpettes,
So, I was without internet for about two weeks while I braved a crappy snow storm to move into a new house. Love the house. Hate the snow. When I finally returned to cyberspace I got the surfing stare. Click, stare, click, stare; for hours on end. Then I snapped out of it.
I began to read what I was hypnotically absorbing. Low and behold, everyone's is an expert at everything! Who would of thought?
I gravitate towards music industry related material, as I am trying to forge a path towards financial sustainability making music. So what did I read in said type web content? Bullshit. No body knows what they are talking about. No facts, no critical thinking. Yet many folk claim they have such a wealth of expertise on everything. Many bloggers talk endlessly about things that they think they know, and how it's going to influence you. YOU the reader. To illustrate my point, people who talk smack on the bible and who have never read it, or vise versa. I once read a church marquee that I found very cleaver. It read "don't quote the bible if you haven't read it." I like that.
Where is bubbles at? I am not sure but I intend to find out. On quick glance I talk about parts of my life on my blogs and such. Mostly I talk about my music, what inspired me, or how the music came about. I some times talk about other artist and musicians I like. Or other ways of getting the same bubbles content in different on line forms. Does it matter? Million dollar question.
What does this mean? Hell if I know. But I intend to find out. I ain't no expert on anything, but I know what I feel. I hate bullshit. I hate the bullshit I spew; I hate the bullshit you spew. These days I can spot genuine from a mile away. Real easy too, I look for the person that doesn't need to, have to, or want to bullshit me. That's who I want to surround myself in 2009. Don't care if you're perfect, you just gotta be trying.
In 2009 I'm going to try to-
- Eliminate the bullshit I spew
- Ignore the bullshit others spew
- Critically think about everything
- Make more music
- Surround myself with genuine, intelligent, and trustworthy people
- Give less answers, ask more questions, find more facts
And if you're going "I don't bullshit.", or "who does bubbles think he is?", or if you're insulted by what I say, or if you think I'm preaching at you, or you're lazy...
You best be stepping out my cyber house. That's right, get the fuck out my websites and shit, and don't ever come back. This house is for my peeps, not you.
Peace, and I'm out.
bubbles
for straight media including bio's, music, links, and products go to
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Dec 19 2008, 12:54 PMMy blog is like a like a long twitter tweet.Seasons greetings my chimps,
Just quickly, I would like to thank all those who came out for the show at Berbati's in Portland last night. You braved the cold and wet. To the rest of you, shame on being a scared-y cats.
I feel like I'm getting dumber everyday. That's why I am asking you, yes you, do you feel the same?
I like my new song. It's a bit different than usual, but most of the time they are. It's called "Big Bailout" after the $700 Wall Street bailout. Another question, how do you spend your entertainment dollars, if you have any?
Peace,
bubbles
Here are some links...
bubbles on ILike - http://www.ilike.com/artist/Bubbles+%28Portland%2C+OR%29
bubbles on twitter - www.twitter.com/bubblesmusic
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Dec 13 2008, 02:15 PMFrosty the Coal What?!!!
Seasons greetings my chimps,
Trying to make a living as an independent musician is tough. Hell, just trying to make a living is tough. Then I think about all the resources and money that goes into the music in advertisement. You'll be able to comment later on this very thing, keep reading. For example I wonder how much money it took to make this ad jingle, "Frosty the Coalman". I first heard this story on NPR's "Wait, wait don't tell me". A real lovely cover of frosty the snowman but intended to display the greener side of coal. Click here for another link to news about the song. Hmmm.
How much did that association (American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity) pay to bite that song? Yet I'm here hustling to sell the music that I alone create. I see something wrong with this. You, in your infinite collective wisdom can help explain this to me. Yes you, reading this. I ask two questions,
1. Can you remember more song choruses or commercial jingles (things like the NBC jingle and Empire Carpets)?
2. What do you give a crap about in your music? Where it comes from? Who made it? Who likes it? How about do you give a crap about the instruments used, or what the lyrics or lack of say? Why do you like what you do?
Talk amongst yourselves. Then post a comment here on this blog.
Oh yes, and my new song about the economy is up on my various online spots. This time go check it out on ILike. ILike lets you hear all sorts of Indy and non Indy artists and your friends can see who you like! The song is called "Is this the bottom? Part 3". When will the economy tank to the bottom? Part4, 5, 12 maybe? We'll see.
Peace,
bubbles
Here are some links...
Wait, wait don't tell me - http://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/
Frosty the Coalman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3q6HeImpPs http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/JustOneThing/story?id=6444773&page=1
bubbles on ILike - http://www.ilike.com/artist/Bubbles+%28Portland%2C+OR%29
